MS Dhoni didn't help Shardul Thakur for a Stunning Reason: Harbhajan Singh spills the beans

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MS Dhoni is one of the greatest captains of India and is among the elites in modern-day cricket.

The former India skipper grew into a giant of the game and transformed India's fortunes in the ICC tournaments, as the men in Blue won three ICC titles during his tenure at the helm.

Dhoni's excellent leadership skill is lauded across the world, and the former India star had certain methods of developing a player under his guard. Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh recounted one of the incidents during his Chennai Super Kings days, where Dhoni refrained from assisting Shardul Thakur in a match.

Harbhajan recounted an incident involving Dhoni's approach at CSK. Despite Shardul being hit for consecutive boundaries, Dhoni chose not to intervene.

Harbhajan shared this story while speaking with former India Under-19 batter Taruwar Kohli. He recalled a game where Shardul Thakur was bowling, and Kane Williamson hit him for two consecutive boundaries. Harbhajan suggested that Dhoni should advise Shardul to change his length.

However, Dhoni responded, "Paaji agar aaj bataunga na, yeh kabhi nahi seekhega (If I tell him today, he will never learn). Let him learn by himself."

Harbhajan Singh played alongside MS Dhoni for several years in both the Indian team and CSK. He highlighted three key traits of Dhoni that have made CSK a beloved franchise among fans and players alike.

Shardul Thakur was part of CSK for four IPL seasons from 2018 to 2021, and again came back to the franchise in 2024. Harbhajan Singh was with the team for three of those seasons. The incident mentioned likely occurred between 2018 and 2020. According to Harbhajan, Dhoni believed in letting bowlers learn from their mistakes rather than providing immediate solutions, which is a massive learning curve for any youngster.

Apart from Dhoni's leadership on the field, the CSK captain was instrumental in maintaining a healthy atmosphere in the team. The players used to enjoy a stress-free atmosphere while equal treatment of all the players further aided in high team morale and excellent camaraderie among the players.

"He [Dhoni] ensures a great team environment is maintained. No one is treated like a biggie or a kid at the same time. What he has done matters. He always prioritised team goals over individuals. I think that's what made CSK a special team. The dressing room - win or lose - remains the same. It's one of those very rare qualities. You don't feel like there's a match the next day, it is that relaxed. As long as you give your best, it's fine. Learn and move forward," he added.